Coolamon
Maker
Queenie Ngaramulirri
Date1993
Object number00016755
NameCoolamon
MediumBark, string
DimensionsOverall: 93 mm, 0.25 kg
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA bark and string coolamon made by Queenie Ngaramulirri (or Simon), from Borroloola, Northern Territory.
This coolamon is made from one piece of bark from the nakulkarra wood (tea tree) which comes from the lagoon area the Adala country. The bark was heated over a fire after being stripped from the tree which makes it possible to flatten out then reshape. It is then pleated to a point at each end and tied with string made from the mardadarki (kurrajong) tree.
Coolamons are very versatile and used for a variety of purposes including carrying food, water or children or as a cooking utensil.
Language: Yanyuwa.
Clan: Yanyuwa.HistoryThe Yanyuwa people still use coolamons for carrying food, water, small children and utensils although it is only the
older Yanyuwa women like Queenie Simon who still makes them.
The Yanyuwa people make their coolamons by pleating the bark of paper bark or stringy bark trees. Queenie takes full
advantage of the beautiful patterns on the bark by only using minimal shaping and instead subtly following the line of
natural grain and the texture of the fibre itself.
SignificanceQueenie Ngarambulirri was asked to make these coolamons by the Australian National Maritime Museum in 1993 to illustrate what kind of tools and equipment were carried by people on their sewn bark canoes.
